Make laughter yoga part of school curriculum, says Noida group

Union culture minister Dr Mahesh Sharma said laughter yoga would be included in the upcoming Yoga Day

Residents of Jal Vayu Vihar in Noida take part in morning laughing yoga sessions.(Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

During World Laughter Day celebrations at Jal Vayu Vihar community centre on Thursday, speakers demanded the inclusion of laughter yoga in the school curriculum.

Union Culture Minister Dr Mahesh Sharma assured the participants that he would be including laughter yoga in the upcoming Yoga Day. He attended the event that was held from 6.30am to 7.30am.

“It is a matter of drawing pleasure and how we derive it — whether by laughing or by making somebody laugh,whether by doing something for humanity, society or country. How we draw pleasure is essential. Some follow a path, while there are those who leave their footprints for others to follow. Dr Kataria made a simple act like laughing into a movement,” the minister said.

He said the laughter movement should not remain confined to senior citizens alone. “The younger generation too should be involved in this movement. Whether it is artificial laughter or a real one from within, both have the same medical benefit of relieving tension,” Sharma said.

Earlier Dr Madan Kataria, founder of Laughter Yoga Clubs Movement, demanded that laughter yoga be included in normal yoga and be given recognition under AYUSH.

He further stressed that laughter yoga should be introduced in schools too. “During morning prayers, students should practise laughter yoga for five minutes. It should be included in the school curriculum. We are launching this at one school on May 7. These days, students are under a lot of tension. Laughter yoga will relieve them of the tension,” Kataria said.

The minister assured Kataria that he will forward the demand to AYUSH directorate and also request the Prime Minister to include laughter yoga in the Yoga Day celebrations scheduled for June 21.” On the PM’s request, 161 countries have agreed to hold yoga programmes on Yoga Day,” Sharma said.